St. Clair County People of Interest



DR. JOHN W. WHEELER (1844-1888)

It All Started With A Tornado, by Wilbur Zink:

Dr. Wheeler was born in Dearborn County, Indiana in 1844 and went into the infantry at age 18. He served until June of 1865. He attended Moor’s Hill College for two years, then in the fall of 1867 and 1868, he attended Cincinnati Electric Medical College. He came to Missouri in the spring of 1868 and located in Hudson City, Bates County, where he practiced medicine. In 1869, he located at Johnson City and continued his practice. He had a pharmacy in 1870 and in 1878 he added a line of general merchandise. He was a successful businessman and physician and owned about 1300 acres of land in St. Clair County as well as additional land in Cedar County. Dr. Wheeler was also postmaster of Johnson City in 1870.
Iuka Springs became known for its caves, spring water that had healing qualities and as a location for reunions of Civil War veterans. Iuka was named after a famous Civil War battle at Iuka, Mississippi. It was located in Osage Township.
Dr. J. W. Wheeler, a merchant at Johnson City had plans to make Iuka a resort area such as Monegaw Springs had become. The two villages were about 5 miles apart. Dr. Wheeler applied for a post office in Iuka. He got the permit and from December 1887 until August 1903 there was a post office in Iuka. The post office, like many others in those days, was located in the country store.
Dr. Wheeler hired a large cave dug in Iuka. His plans for the cave are unknown. A large shaded park was used for picnics, reunions, revivals and other gatherings. Monegaw George, a well-known black cook, cooked large beefs over an open fire pit that he turned on a heavy metal rack for the large gatherings at the park.



History of St. Clair County, page 912-913:

The article with details of the Killing of John D. Baucom mentions three Doctors from Johnson City area.
Dr. J.W. Wheeler, Dr. W.W. Washburn, Dr. H. Lear

1883 History of St. Clair County MO, National Historical Co., pg 1141:

WHEELER, J. W.
DR. J. W. WHEELER, merchant at Johnson City, was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, September 7, 1844, his parents being Captain Piercy and Jerusha Ann (Holiday) Wheeler. In July, 1862, when in his
eighteenth year, J. W. enlisted in the Ninety-first Indiana volunteer infantry, and after nine months service he re-enlisted in the 105th regiment. After four months in this regiment he again re-enlisted in
the 147th, and served till discharged in June, 1865. After his discharge he returned home and attended school at Moors' Hill College for two years and received a good education in the English branches. In
the fall and winter of 1867 and 1868 he took a course of lectures at the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College. Coming to Missouri in the spring of 1868, he commenced the practice of his profession at Hudson,
Bates County. The following year he came to St. Clair County and located at Johnson City, and has since continued in the practice at this place. The Doctor has built up a large patronage and is accounted one of the most successful physicians in the county. He engaged in the drug business in 1870, and in 1878 he added a complete stock of general merchandise. He is identified with the Republican party; was elected
township collector and collected the tax for two years. He owns about 1,300 acres of land in St. Clair County, about 600 acres of which are improved, besides considerable town property and land in Cedar County. He is extensively occupied in feeding cattle and hogs for the market. The doctor is a man of good business habits and qualifications, and has made what property he owns since coming to the county. He was married here December 8, 1870, to Miss Ariadnah Isabelle Peck, a daughter of John W.. Peck, of Greencastle, Indiana. They have two children: Glennie F. and Harry P. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.



1850 Dearborn Co., IN Census – Sparta Township:
23 & 25 November
236/236 Piercy Wheeler, age 42, male, farmer, $1500 real estate, born TN
Jerusha Wheeler, age 39, female, born VT
James Wheeler, age 15, male, farmer, born IN, attended school
William Wheeler, age 13, male, born IN, attended school
Thomas W. Wheeler, age 10, male, born IN, attended school
Henry, age 9, male, born IN, attended school
Sarah A., age 7, female, born IN, attended school
John, age 6, male, born IN, attended school
Piercy, age 3, male, born IN
Fernandez C., age 1, male, born IN

1880 St. Clair Co., MO Census – Monegan Township:
Dist. 6, ED 229, Page 19, 28 June
167/172 Wheeler, J.W., white male, age 35, married, Doctor, birthplace Indiana, father born Tennessee, mother born New York
A.R., white female, age 25, wife, married, keeping house, birthplace Indiana, both parents born Illinois
G.F., white female, age 7, daughter, attended school, birthplace Missouri, parents both born Indiana
Harry, white male, age 3, son, birthplace Missouri, parents both born Indiana
Peck, Mary, white female, age 18, sister-in-law, single, birthplace Illinois, both parents born Illinois
Nelson, M.A., white male, age 24, boarder, single, Clerk, Drug Store, birthplace Ohio, father born Pennsylvania, mother born Ohio

International Genealogical Index:
Batch No. A537752; Source Call 537752, 537755, 537757
Piercy Wheeler – Jerusha Anna Holliday – married 3 October 1832 Sparta Twp., Dearborn Co., IN.

International Genealogical Index:
St. Clair Co., MO Marriages, Batch M515161, Source Call No. 0945453
J.W. Wheeler – Isabelle Peck, married 8 December 1870 St. Clair Co., MO.

International Genealogical Index:
Piercy Wheeler – Margaret Jane Beaty, married 24 September 1872 Aurora, Dearborn Co., IN.

International Genealogical Index:
Piercy Wheeler, born 4 May 1808 TN; died 20 July 1875 Sparta Twp., Dearborn Co., IN, buried Sparta Twp., Dearborn Co., IN. Married Jerusha Anna Holliday 3 October 1832 Sparta Twp., Dearborn Co., IN. Jerusha born 14 February 1810 VT; died 3 November 1876 Sparta Twp., Dearborn Co., IN, daughter of Courtland Holliday.
Children of Piercy & Jerusha (Holliday) Wheeler:
1 – James, born 23 February 1835 Dearborn Co., IN; died 14 March 1862.
2 – William, born 5 December 1837 Dearborn Co., IN; died 29 January 1864.
3 – Charles W., born 1840 Dearborn Co., IN.
4 – Henry Clay, born 8 June 1841 Dearborn Co., IN.
5 – Sarah Anna, born 11 March 1843 Dearborn Co., IN; died 7 February 1925.
6 – John, born 1846 Dearborn Co., IN.
7 – Piercy, born 7 October 1847 Sparta, Dearborn Co., IN; died 22 October 1896 Osceola, St. Clair Co., MO. Buried Osceola, St. Clair Co., MO. Married Margaret Jane Beaty 24 September 1872 Aurora, Dearborn Co., IN.
8 – Fernandez Cortes, born 28 August 1849 Dearborn Co., IN.



St. Clair Co., MO Cemetery Records:
Appleton City Cemetery –
Wheeler, Charles P., son of J.W. & A.I. Wheeler, 13 April 1875 – 8 August 1876
Wheeler, Frankie A., son of J.W. & A.I. Wheeler, died 15 April 1873
Wheeler, Glennie P., daughter of J.W. & A.I. Wheeler, 19 February 1873 – 21 December 1884
Wheeler, John W., 7 September 1844 – 24 September 1888

St. Clair Co., MO Cemetery Records:
Osceola Cemetery –
Wheeler, Piercy, 1847 – 1896
Wheeler, Margaret, 1850 - 1932



St. Clair Co., MO Obituaries 1888-1928:

Dr. J.W. Wheeler, died 24 September 1888 St. Clair Co., MO. Issue date 26 September 1888.

Appleton City Cemetery Records, Volume 1:
John W. Wheeler, 7 September 1844 – 24 September 1888

St. Clair Co., MO Cemetery Records:
John W. Wheeler, 7 September 1844 – 24 September 1888, buried in Appleton City Cemetery.